FC 26 Ratings, Fastest Players, New Heroes, and Starter Squad Highlights

• Early Game Excitement
• Position Flexibility Returns
• Fastest Players in FC 26
• Women’s Cards and Market Impact
• Major Upgrades and Starter Beasts
• Juventus and Arsenal Player Ratings
• New Heroes in FC 26
• Icons, Traits, and Special Ratings
• Conclusion – FC 26 is Packed with Variety

The wait is almost over. FC 26 is just three weeks away. For many players, this is the most exciting time of the year as the community prepares for the new Ultimate Team cycle. EA has confirmed that the official database will launch on September 8th, allowing fans to finally build squads, explore stats in detail, and dive into team creation through the web app.

Until then, the community is relying on leaks, and they’ve been spreading quickly across Twitter and other apps. The important thing to note is that these ratings are confirmed, so everything surfacing now is accurate. While we can’t yet officially browse or filter players on EA’s database, we already have a solid look at who the fastest players are, which stars received major upgrades, and the new heroes that are arriving in FC 26.

Early Game Excitement

The early weeks of Ultimate Team always bring a special kind of energy. In FC 25, however, the opening weeks left many players frustrated due to defensive mechanics that made attacking far too difficult. EA has promised improvements this year, and fans are hopeful that FC 26 will deliver a smoother balance right from launch.

Starter squads will become a key talking point once the database is fully live on September 8th. That’s when players will rush to build budget-friendly lineups, experiment with new cards, and jump into Division Rivals. If EA gets gameplay right this year, the start of FC 26 could recapture the magic that keeps FUT launches so memorable.

Position Flexibility Returns

One of the most noticeable changes for FC 26 is the return of more secondary positions for players. In older FIFA titles, position modifiers allowed flexibility, but in FC 25 that system was stripped down, leaving players locked to very limited roles. For example, Garnacho could only play as a left midfielder or left winger, restricting squad creativity.

In FC 26, EA has broadened positional options. Garnacho himself now has CAM and even CM as additional roles, in addition to his natural wide positions. Not every player will have multiple positions, but this change opens up squad-building significantly compared to last year. Teams will no longer feel as restricted, and players will have more freedom to experiment with their lineups.

Fastest Players in FC 26

As always, pace is at the center of Ultimate Team, and FC 26 will feature plenty of rapid players. Confirmed names include Adama Traoré, Jeremie Frimpong, Iñaki Williams, Dan James, and Minta. Legends and heroes also join the list, with R9 Ronaldo receiving Quick Step and Al-Owairan bringing Rapid to the pitch.

These cards are sure to dominate the early game. Dan James and Minta look like ideal starter attackers, providing blistering speed for cheap squads. Meanwhile, high-tier players like Cha Bum-kun with Quick Step will be far more expensive but absolutely devastating in-game. Expect the transfer market to react heavily to these pace-focused players once packs are opened.

Women’s Cards and Market Impact

When women’s footballers were first introduced into Ultimate Team in FC 24, many of their cards were priced extremely high. By FC 25, however, this changed dramatically, with stars like Dabinha dropping from over 150k in the early market to around 12–15k. This pricing shift made women’s cards far more accessible for casual players.

If FC 26 continues this trend, female players could become some of the best-value additions to starter squads. Cards like Dabinha, Diani, and Claudia Pina bring excellent stats and traits such as Low Driven and Finesse Shot, making them highly usable. Their affordability could also give players an edge when building creative mixed squads in the opening weeks.

Major Upgrades and Starter Beasts

A few players have received upgrades that are impossible to ignore. Pacho looks set to be one of the most expensive early defenders after a massive improvement to his stats. Similarly, Hincapié’s transfer to Arsenal combined with boosted pace and defending makes him one of the standout center-backs in FC 26. Paired with Micky van de Ven’s incredible 90 pace, we could see one of the fastest defensive duos in FUT history.

Other names worth watching include Marmoush, Bombito, and McKennie. Marmoush looks like an affordable but effective striker option, while Bombito received a huge defensive jump, making him a sneaky starter pick. With stats that make them both usable and budget-friendly, these kinds of cards will form the backbone of many early Ultimate Teams.

Juventus and Arsenal Player Ratings

The ratings for clubs like Juventus and Arsenal offer plenty of talking points. Juventus players such as McKennie and Locatelli look strong for starter squads, while Chiesa continues to be an exciting attacking option. Even defenders like Gatti offer budget depth for those looking to build Serie A teams.

Arsenal fans will be thrilled with the upgrades to their squad. Martinelli, Timber, and Trossard all look like excellent early-game options. Meanwhile, Hincapié is expected to dominate Premier League defenses thanks to his combination of pace and physicality. Affordable players like Mosquera and Nwaneri also give Arsenal fans some creative, low-cost options for their teams.

New Heroes in FC 26

Perhaps the most exciting reveal is the arrival of eight new FUT Heroes. These include icons of the past like Michel Salgado, Ricardo Quaresma, and Iván Zamorano, all of whom come with strong stats and useful PlayStyle+ traits. Daniele De Rossi also makes his debut, a card that will bring nostalgia to players who remember his legendary Serie A years.

Other additions include Jill Scott as an 85-rated midfielder and Álvaro Arbeloa with defensive versatility. Quaresma, with his signature Trivela+, is expected to be especially popular in the meta. These heroes won’t just offer chemistry benefits—they’ll be some of the most sought-after cards in the first month of FC 26.

Icons, Traits, and Special Ratings

The leaked ratings also showed some exciting changes to icons and national stars. Mia Hamm has officially been added to the game, while returning legends like Cha Bum-kun, Stoichkov, and Kluivert now feature updated PlayStyle+ traits such as Quick Step and Low Driven. These changes could make certain icons far more competitive in the FUT meta.

National squads also boast impressive players. France and England both feature standout names like Mbappé, Dembélé, Russo, and Kelly. Claudia Pina’s 86 rating with Low Driven is one to watch, and Gay Auto’s pace boost to 89 makes her a hidden gem. With more variety in player traits and stats, FC 26 is shaping up to have one of the most diverse player pools yet.

Conclusion – FC 26 is Packed with Variety

With all these confirmed ratings and reveals, it’s clear that FC 26 is set to deliver a much stronger start than FC 25. Expanded player positions, upgraded defenders, rapid attackers, and a new crop of heroes will all shape the early meta. Combine that with the official database dropping on September 8th, and Ultimate Team fans are in for one of the most exciting launches yet.

If EA manages to fine-tune gameplay, FC 26 could avoid the defensive-heavy frustrations of last year. Between the fastest players, major upgrades, and the introduction of new heroes and icons, this year’s game promises fresh variety and endless squad-building possibilities. The only question is who will you pack first when the new season kicks off?

We will share more updates on FC 26 in separate articles. If you found this information helpful or would like to learn more, please be sure to explore the other articles on our site.

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